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Artistic Florence, practical Bologna, grand and Stately Milan, and unique Verona were next added to the list. Verona's superb and well-preserved "Arena," excelling in superficial area the Colosseum and holding 45,000 people, was specially granted for the Wild West's use: and the home of Shakespeare's love-lorn heroine placed another picture in the Red man's tour of the native land of his discoverer. The Indians were taken by "BUFFALO BILL" to picturesque Venice, and there shown the marvellous results of the ancient white man's energy and artistic architectural skill. They were immortalized by the camera in the Ducal Palace, St. Marc's Piazza, and in the strange street vehicle of the Adrian's erstwhile pride--the gondola-- contributing another interesting object lesson to the distant juvenile members of their tribe--to testify more fully to their puzzle senses the fact of strange sights and marvels whose existence is to be learned of in the breadth of knowledge necessitated by their future existence.
Moving via Innsbruck throught the beautifully scenic Tyrol--the Bavarian capital, Munich, with its naturally artistic instincts, gave a grand reception the the beginning of a marvellously successful tour through German-land, which included Vienna (with an excursion on the "Blue Danube"), Berlin, Dresden, Leipsic, Magdeburg, Hanover, Brunswick, Hamburg, Bremen, Dusseldorf, Cologne, along the Rhine past Boun, Coblenz, "Fair Bingen on the Rhine" to Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Stresburg.
ARENA, VERONA.
At Strasburg the management decided to close temporarily this extraordinary tour and winter the whole company. The quaint little village of Benfield furnished an ancient nunnery and a castle with stables and a good range; here the little community of Americans spent the winter comfortably, being feasted and feted by the inhabitants, whose esteem they gained to such an extent that their departure was marked by a general holiday.
Leaving the temporary colony under the charge of his director partner, Mr. NATE SALSBURY, (whose energy found occupation in attending to the details of the future), COL. CODY, the Indians, adn your humble servant departed to America, arriving safely, and proceeded to the seat of the Indian difficulties in the distant State of Dakota.
After a short, bloody and mixed campaign, peace was restored, the Government authority was secured, and selected band of Indians--composed equally of the "active friendly," headed by Chiefs "LONG WOLF," "NO NECK," "YANKTON," "CHARLEY," "BLACK HEART," and the "band of hostages" held by the military under Gen. Nelson A. Miles, at Fort Sheridon, and headed by the redoubtable "SHORT BULL," "KICKING BEAR," "LONE BULL," "SCATTER," and "REVENGE" --were given special permission to come with "BUFFALO BILL," for a short European tour, and left Philadelphia in the chartered Red Star steamer Switzerland.
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Passing rapidly through the, to them, marvellous experience of the railroad, and its flying express train, the sight of twons, villages, cities, over valley, plain, and mountain--to the magic floating house (the steamer), sadly learning, while struggling with ma de mer, the existence of the "big waters" that tradition alone had bruited to incredulous ears, these red men passed the first portion of a tempestuous voyage, which landed them, wonderingly surprised at the sight of thousands of white men peacefully greeting their arrival, in the busy commerical mart of Antwerp.
After introducing the Indians to hotel life to the first time, a tour of the city was made, among the notable points visited being the Cathedral, which grand edifice aroused their curiousity. The grand pciture, Rubens' "Descent from the Cross," brought to the minds of all - white men, "friendlies," and "hostiles" - the contributing cause of the late regrettable campaign, the "Messiah craze" - an interest intensified by the fact that the aesthetic-looking "SHORT BULL" and some of the others had been the leading fanatical believers (probably, even apparently, conscientious), promoters and disciples of the still mysterious religious disease that lately agitated the Indian race in America. In fact, after the death of "SITTING BULL," the central figures of this strange beleif were "SHORT BULL," as the religious leader, and "KICKING BEAR" as the War Chief. Grouped together with "SCATTER, "REVENGE," and others, in moody contemplation of this subject, was the late defier of a might nation of 65,000,000 people, nearly all of whom teach or preach the truthfulness of the picture's traditions-
OFF ANTWERP.
GRIM VISAGED WAR IN WINTER--GATHERING THE DEAD AFTER THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED KNEE, SOUTH DAKOTA. GHOST DANCE CAMPAIGN, 1890-1.
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a man in two short months transported from the indescribably desolate, almost inaccessible natural fortresses of the Bad Lands (Mauvaise Terre) of Dakota to the Ancient City of Antwerp, gazing spellbound on the artistic reproduction, by the renowned artist, of the red man's late dream, "The Messiah." Respect for his thoughts and the natural stoical nature of the Indian leaves to future oppurtunity an interesting interrogative of what passed through the mind of the subtle chief. Suffice it to say that surprise at the white man's many-sided character, and the greatness of his resources in the past and present, was beginning to dawn more and more on the new tourists. Arriving the next day at Strasburg--introduction to the cow-boys, the camp life, the Cathedral, the great clock, the fortifications, etc., was followed by the delight of each brave on receiving his pony; and once more with his trusty friend, the horse, the Ogallalla and Brule in a few days felt as though "Richard was himself again."
Joining more heartily than was expected in the mimic scenes of the "Wild West," soon the ordinary routine of daily duties seemed a pleasant diversion. A grand reception in Strasburg, the tour resumed to Carlsruhe, Mannheim--including a visit to Heidelberg Castle--Mayence, Wiesbaden, to Cologne (the Rhine legends of Lurline, etc., giving interest to the Peau Rouge en route), Dortmund, Duisburg, Crefeld and Aix-la-Chapelle terminated a tour of Germany filled with the most pleasant recollections. The tomb of Charlemagne ! (Carlo Magmo). The history of this great warrior was interpreted to attentive ears, a lesson being instilled by the relation that after all his glory, his battles, triumphs, and conquests in which he defeated the dusky African prototypes of the present visitors to his tomb, peace brought him to pursue knowledge, to cultivate the arts and sciences, and that after two hundred years of entombment his body was found by Otto, the Saxon, sitting erect upon a granite throne, the iron crown upon his head, imperial sceptre in right hand, while his left rested on an open volume of Holy Scriptures, the index finger pointed to the well-known passage, "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lost his own soul?" Her, by the grave of the founder of Christianity, stoof the latest novitiates to its efforts, who may yet, in following its teachings, it is hoped, make such progress through its aid and education as to furnish one of their race capable of holding the exalted chieftainship--the Presidency of their native land--the Empire of the West. Who can say--why not?
Belgium--Brussels, its Paris, brings vividly to mind, in its semblance of language, people, habits, beauty, wealth, culture, and appreciation, remembrances of our delightful sojourn in the capital of the how-truly-named La Belle France. Visit Waterlook. From Pine Ridge to historic Waterloo! Our immense success, courteous treatment, the repeated visits and kindly interest of the most amiable lady, the late Queen of the Belgians, an enthusiastic horsewoman, her pleasant reference to London in the Jubilee year, increased the gratitude the Wild West voyagers feel for the treatment everywhere recieved in Europe since, in 1887, we invaded "Old England," and pitched our tents in the world's metropolis--London. So, after a short season in Antwerp, our motley cargo set sail across the North Sea to make complete our farewell visit to our cousins of the Isle, revel in a common language (bringing a new pleasure to the ear), hoping to receive a continuance of that amicable appreciation of our humble efforts that the past seemed to justify. Landing at Grimsby and proceeding to Leeds, in Yorkshire, we commenced a provincial tour of Great Britain. The reception everywhere accorded us was so hearty in its nature that a sentiment of relationship insensibly permeated the Yankee exiles. From Leeds we went to Liverpool, the great shipping port, thence to Manchester, where old friendships were renewed and new ones formed--a notable event being a benefit to nineteen of the Balaclava survivors (who were indigent), resulting in great success, not only financially, but from an historic point, because of the participation in our performance of three generations, the past, present, and future English soldier--in the battle-scarred veterans, the Prince of Wales' Own (Lancers), and the boy cadets of the city. Sheffield, with its busy factories, was next visited, and the Indian found a new cause for amazement in the world's cutlery city. Stoke-on Trent, with its marvellous Wedgewood ware works and other innumerable pottery industries, gave another lesson in Cancasian progress, and opened to the red man new wonders in the art of table decoration. Nottingham, with its busy lace looms, Leicester, of historic interest, and Birminham, with its mammoth iron plants, in order challenged the admiration and assisted to educate the son of the forest.
Cardiff (Wales), in energy and "git up," quite American city, having increased in population and wealth 55 percent. in nine years, remains on our ledger as a banner six days' stand, the receipts exceeding ($) 10,000 ($50,000), the R. R. stocks rising on the market, and one restaurant alone feeding 15,000 extra dinners to the visiting Welshmen. To Bristol, the famous West of England seaport, and thence to Portsmouth Devonport, the great
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naval-military-commercial twin cities combined to render our visits to the South of England profitable and enjoyable. Brighton with its beauty in repose and its terror in a cyclone will long be remembered as our last stop before going to Glasgow (Scotland), where the winter was spent in a specially arranged building. Here we made acquainted with the many sturdy virtues of the Scot, and here 6,000 orphan children, impromptu sang, "Yankee Doodle" on appearance of the starry flag. Glasgow will ever be remembered for the many public and social courtesies extended.
A return to the scene of our London triumphs brought a renewal of all that was pleasant and agreeable in our former experience, and brought our visit to the Old World to a close with the bright compliment under the circumstances (the Court in the mourning for Prince Albert Victor) of a Royal request to exhibit before her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England and Empress of India, at Windsor Castle, who was thus the first and only potentate on earth to view, as yet, the Wild West in conjunction with the Rough Riders of the World.
Leaving England with genuine expressions of regret from thousands who witnessed our departure, we boarded at Tillbury Docks in London the good American Liner, Mohawk, traversing the North Sea, the English Channel and the broad Atlandtic. Landing at Jersey City, the usual scenes attendant occurred, with nothing to mar the occasion, if I may except one instance in our little circle, which to a certain extent had its tragic side. It was only a white horse, but a well-known horse; a horse whose picture and public will remember in conjunction with Colonel Cody's, placarded on the walls and exhibited in all windows; a horse who possibly, with his rider, appeared in more cities and before more people of distinction, rank, wealth and character, then ever did steed before. The fact that he was the companion of Colonel Cody's last war horse, "Charley," who died and was buried at sea upon our first return voyage, and the, singular to relate, without any premonitory symptoms of sickness and never looking better in his life, "Billy" walked off the gang-plank, neighed as his hoofs struck his native shore, and dropped dead--is food for thought that each one may assimilate. However small it may seem, this pathetic incident will always be remembered by the returning voyagers as "Billy" and "Charley" were favourite members of the "Old Guard."
The writer followed the sun on its westward course with his Red Brother, and it would take a chapter to describe the scenes at the grand reception at the foothills of the Rockies upon the return to the Ogallallas of the various bands-
Since then, for seven months each year, this Exhibition has toured so thoroughly, as to have visited every portion of the vast North American Continent. For the last two years it invaded the very sections where its story was transacted and which was twenty-one years ago the "Unsettled West"--now developed into one of the richest of nature's gifts to the great Republic.
Its mission being nearly ended, its story will be relegated to the painter, historian, romancer, and to legendary lore--AS THE PRESENT TOUR IS ABSOLUTELY ITS LAST.
Image Left
SIOUX BELLE, "SHOOTING STAR."
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THE HOME OF HISTORY.
In concluding the sketch of the pioneer, military and managerial career of Colonel W.F. Cody, and of the historic characters and salient features with which Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World has made mankind familiar, it is worthy of note that their present and 20th annual tour will be signalized by a magnitude, interest, value and perfection even surpassing previous efforts and successes. As indicated by the published programme of performances, and the result is such an historical, martial and equestrian triumph.
It is at once a colossal Object School of living lessons and an entertainment radically and exceptionally differing from all other exhibitions in that it is actually a part of the romantic past it perpetuates, and vitalized by the presence of some of the most noted makers of the frontier history they illustrate. There is no "make believe" about it; nothing that seems to say, "We will now give you an imitation of somebody doing something," and it does not in any degree rely for its success upon the display of sensational feats that have no other utility than mere spectacular exhibition. The men who participate in it are, in absolute verity, just what they are represented to be, and the things they do are such as they have been accustomed to in war and military life, or in the struggle for existence in their several vocations and conditions. Himself an acknowledged master in horsemanship, Colonel Cody is a critical judge of the individual, the collective and comparative merits of the cavalry, Indian, Cossack, Cowboy, Bedouin, Mexican, Cuban, Argentine and other riders he has secured. As an expert he knows just how to most brilliantly and effectively mass these hundreds of representative riders and their horses in grand review, cosmographic pageant and kaleidoscopic manoeuvres. Himself a famous participant in many fierce battles, pursuits, rescues, and even deadly single combats, he knows how to plan and direct the spectacles of dreadful war and carnage, and of savage ambush and foray, in comparison with which the conflicts in the Coliseum of the Caesars were but spiritless and insignificant.
To those who have followed the march of civilization from the Alleghenies to the Pacific, this exposition is like an illustrated reproduction of events which transpired during the long and blood struggle between the white man and the Indian, in the former's effort to extend his empire and the latter's heroic but hopeless defense of his hunting grounds. The singular and savage characters of the Leather Stocking Tales become striking, electrifying realities. The admirers of Lewis and Clarke, the explorers; of Daniel Boone, the poioneer; of Kit Carson, the scout, and of Freemont, Crook, Custer, Sherman and Miles, the fighters, readily recognize in the exhibition how courage, incomitable grit, alertness, sagacity, accuracy of aim, acuteness of perception and physical endurance won for them the names to enviably identified with the history of the fierce and prolonged frontier struggles, wherein every piece of ground was disputed inch by inch.
While it can be truthfully said that "age hath not withered nor can custom stale its infinite variety," still it is proper now to refer to the length of service attained by this historic exhibition in its mission of reflecting and presenting actual scenes that are now really disappearing, and call attention to the fact that this career has been prolonged until, like the epoch it portrays, it is fast approaching an enforced finale, for lack of material--truthful material--is fast being exhausted by Time's inexorable decree. The present generation has an opportunity of witnessing vivid life pictures of a period that has had an abiding and important influence in the development of the western section of this great continent and the building up of the nation. Never before in any age has such an exposition been presented, and it can never be duplicated. Soon the dark clouds of the future will descend upon the present and behind them will disappear the Wild West with all its glories, for ever made mere memories; and as it fades behind nature's impenetrable curtain will be hallowed by a timely and dignified--Finis. JOHN M. BURKE
TRAVEL BY
DISTRICT RAILWAY.
WIMBLEDON ([?]) Wimbledon Park, Southfields (For Wimbledon Common) EAST PUTNEY (For West Hill Wandsworth) PUTNEY BRIDGE & HURLINGHAM, Walham Green, West Brompton, EARLS COURT (FOR THE ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS) Ealling ([For Great [Wosters?] llas to Windsor, Slough, West Drayton, Southall, ?]) Chiswick Park, ACTON, HOUNSLOW, Osterley & Spring Grove, South Ealling, BOSTON ROAD (For Brentford and Hadwall) TURNHAM GREEN, Ravenscourt Park, HAMMERSMITH, West Kensington & ADDISON ROAD (for Olympia) Westbourne Park, Notting Hill, Sherpherds Bush, Brompton, Paddington, Bayswater, SOUTH KENSINGTON
(For the Museums, London University, Imperial Institute, Albert Hall and Memorial, &o.)
SLOANE SQUARE,
VICTORIA (For S.L &C. & L.S.S.C. and Crystal Palace Raileways)
St. James' Park, Westminister, CHARING CROSS (For the Theatre and S.E. and C. Railway.) TEMPLE (For Law Courts.) &c., &c.
FARES & SEASON TICKET RATES ARE NOW GREATLY REDUCED.
Blackfriars (For St. Paul's S.E. & C.R. Station.) MANSION HOUSE (Central City Station, For St. Paul's Cathedral, &c.) CANNON STREET (For S.E. and C. Railway.) MONUMENT (for Longdon Bridge), MARK LANE (for the Tower & Tower Bridge &[Fasshorah?] Street Station.) KINGS CROSS (For G.N. & Mild Railways.) BISHOPSGATE (For G.E. Liverpool St. Station) ALDGATE Aldgate East, Shadwell, Wapping, Rotherhithe, DEPTFORD ROAD, NEW CROSS (S.E. & C. L. E. S. C. R.), WHITECHAPEL Stepney Green, MILE END, Bow Road, BROMLEY, West Ham, Plastow, UPTON PARK, EAST HAM, Barking, Tilbury, SOUTHEND, &c., &c.
HOUNSLOW TOWN STATION, on the Main London Road, Hounslow, WILL BE RE-OPENED on 1st MARCH, 1903.
THE EXTENSION TO SUDBURY AND SOUTH HARROW WILL SHORTLY BE OPENED.
EXPRESS PARCELTS SERVICE.
Frequent Collections. Prompt Delivery. Low Rates.
PARCELTS RECEIVED AT ALL DISTRICT STATIONS.
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"The Last of the Great Scouts"
Contains the most Thrilling Incidents in the Career of
COL. WILLIAM F. CODY
("BUFFALO BILL")
AND IS
REPLETE WITH ANECDOTES
OF
HEROISM AND ADVENTURE.
THE LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS:
THE LIFE STORY OF
COL. WILLIAM F. CODY
("BUFFALO BILL")
AS TOLD BY HIS SISTER,
HELEN CODY WETMORE.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY FREDERIC REMINGTON AND E.W. DEMING.
NEW EDITION.
This Edition is expressly printed to commemorate Colonel Cody's and the Rough Riders of the World's Visit to Europe. 1903-4.
--------------------------------------- Price 2s. 6d.; by Post, 2s. 9d. ---------------------------------------
To be obtained from the Attendants at each performance,
Or by application to
H. LEONARD (Travelling Manager),
THE PARTINGTON ADVERTISING CO.,
c/o "Buffalo Bill's Wild West."
Or to
The PARTINGTON ADVERTISING CO.,
171, Strand, London, W.C.
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